DJ CAT NYC: The Interview

By Conan


If you hear the name DJ CAT NYC rest assured she is one extremely intelligent hottie of a DJ cum producer that you'll thank us for because she can dirty your dancefloor making you go 'yes madam can I have more please?'


Cat is surrounded by some of the top producers, most noticeably Felix Da Houscat (ahhhh I see, because both their names have the word 'Cat' in it), she explicitly talks about her Hot Pink Pussy and slovenly wants you to suck on her Lollipop as footnoted in her self titled EP, this fantastic woman brings the dirty dirty!

She also helped out (along with Automatic Panic) with Felix Da Housecat's mixtape with combined efforts off one P.Diddy, its simply a fantastic mixtape to dig out around the blogsphere plus some of her tracks were on Felix's Essential mix for BBC 1


We have the utmost pleasure to chat with this hot chili tamale for this exclusive interview




So how would you tell the story of one DJ CAT NYC? When or where did it all begin with you in terms of music?

My parents record collection. My father is English and mother is Mexican. I grew up listening to everything from Brazilian Bossa Nova to Led Zeppelin.

I started djing at rock bars in the East Village and one fateful Thursday night my friend Lizzy asked me to cover a gig for him ,at the hottest club in the city, at that time called Lot 61. He was the resident DJ for their rock night and he told me to play ONLY rock n roll. I covered for him that night but after about an hour or so I started to mix it up and play fun 80s tracks, some house, disco and electro. I had the party rockin and at the end of the night, the manager asked me to be the resident Friday night DJ at the club. I was a weekly fixture at the celebrity filled club and was introduced to the hottest people in New York. Next, the owner Amy Sacco asked me to help open her next hot spot…Bungalow 8.


So I read on your official website that you started your music career reviewing albums for a local magazine, Urban Beat.....So did you ever face that dilemma of reviewing a bad album, and if so care to share what that bad album was?

Yes I did and No I do not care to shareJ

So working on magazines and photograph shoots........I take it you're a very creative person?

Yeah I love music, fashion, art…pretty things that shine!


Okay lets talk some more about music. What were the core genres or core albums that you were listening to when you growing up in Houston?

Rock n roll, nu wave, punk, post punk, 80s pop, grunge, old school hip hop

With those said albums (or genres) did it shape or influence you into the person that you are?

I love a lot of different genres! If there is something hot about the song, I can appreciate the beauty in pretty much any music….as long there is something good about it…I’m not saying that I love all music….but almostJ

My list of albums which have influenced me are endless but here are a few I can list that have always bleeding from my speakers now or at some point in my life.

1. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti/Led Zeppelin 1
2. Cocteau Twins - The Pink Opaque
3. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
4. Depech Mode - Violator
5. The Cure – Disintegration
6. The Smiths - Meat is Murder
7. Nirvana – Nevermind/ In Utero
8. New Order - Substance

Ever have your moment in cheese music like the rest of us? (if it helps I was into "Jem and the Holograms" back in the mid 80s)

OMG. I love Jem and the Holograms!

So you're now based in NYC (hence the name DJ CAT NYC), and I've been hearing alot of good things in terms of the good music and the nightlife thriving from there. But then again this is New York, which always has their finger on the pulse. Would you say that statement still rings true today?

The thing about New York that is always the same is that it always changes. Night clubs and after hours are always thriving in the city that never sleeps. Only thing is…the venue changes, or the night, or the name. You have to keep your ear to the streets to know whats going on in NYC baby!


How did you get involved with DJs Are Not Rockstars with Alexander Technique (of Princess Superstar fame)?

We were both spinning at Arthur Baker’s party called, Return to New York. That’s where we met. Then we started a party at the popular dance den, Mr Blacks. We also Djed together and toured some. It was fun but last March we decided to go our separate ways.

Do you think that there is a rivalry between both the New York dance scene and the now popular LA scene ala East Coast/West Coast (except its more about the dance scene than the rap scene)?

DJs from the West coast come and rock out in New York and vice versa. I wouldn’t say rivalry…its more like family.

Okay DJ Cat..........you gonna have to drop the ball here, but we've seen photos of you hanging with the most popular producers, artists, bands and DJs within the dance music elite......Care to be our diva and drop some famous names for our readers?

I’m blessed to be surrounded by some of the most colorful and interesting people in the business. Felix Da House Cat is my fav!!! He is soooooo positive and his energy is crazy fun! Automatic Panic always makes me laugh and in making music with him there is never a dull moment.

Al P of MSTRKRFT is super cool and very down to earth, Armand Van Helden always has a way of making me feel beautiful and I love listening to music with Arthur Baker cause he likes hard jacking electro…just like me!

BTW as a DJ, do you still do any record shopping during your downtime or are you an MP3 person like the rest of us?

I have my collection of records that I keep close but today I’m mostly digital. Besides, my dads going to give me all his records some day so I’m not too worried about it.

I've always wanted to ask a Female Dj this, but are there still prejudices out there in the dance circles about Women DJs? And if so, what is the most common misconceptions?

I think we are a minority as this is predominantly a male orineted business. As far as prejudices, I think they will always be around…which leads us to your next question.

Let talk about other forms of Djing out there for today's females.....Topless Djing. For or against? Good or bad for the scene? And finally....woman liberation or pure exploitation or.......detrimental to the movement of Female Djs?

Bad …hence the stereotyping. But then again if you got it, why not flaunt it?

So I see that you're a Serato user (a product from my country BTW). Tell us about your experience with using the innovative product?

I was spinning at this dark, basement club in New York called, Lit. It’s like a cave and the floor is all uneven. After the gig I was walking out, carring a bag full of records while wearing 5 inch heels. I tripped and twisted my ankle. I couldn’t walk for a month. Serato has pretty much saved my life!

Okay DJ CAT lets talk about your rumored productions. I took a listen to your myspace player and apparently you're got some tracks that sound fantastic. Is this the makings of a possible DJ CAT NYC album in the future and can we have a piece of it?

Well, coming later this month is my debut, self titled EP. It is being released on Kinetika Records, which is my new label, and will be the inaugural release. Currently I’m hard at work on my debut artist album, and I think I can get you guys over some stuff before it comes out (only if your nice!)

Your then boyfriend was a manager of a music studio which I bet you were like a kid in a candy store playing with all that gear. What gear did you play around with and what piece of equipment in his studio that stood out for you and made you go "I soooo want to start producing music?"

I played around allot with the turntables and mixer. I was obsessed with trying to match beats. Also I really enjoyed watching the engineers record bands with Pro Tools. Hearing how different plug ins made the recorded instruments sound different and enhanced. It was very futuristic to me and quite amazing. I wanted to know EVERYTHING about Pro Tools. I now use other programs in conjunction with Pro Tools like Ableton and Logic.

Now I want to touch on a bit about touring around the world. Now I've noticed that you've been to Australia for "One Love" as "Djs are not rockstars". Any chance that we could have a possible DJ tour from you to New Zealand in the near future?

I have been out to OZ twice this past year, once with D.A.N.R and the other time as a solo artist. I would love to come out to New Zealand as I have heard many wonderful things. Yes, I will be out there soon!

And finally whats in store for DJ CAT (NYC) for the new year?

Well, I have a lot on my plate. First, I am going to finish my debut artist album. I have been collaborating with Arthur Baker, John Robie of Planet Rock, but my main producer is the electro punk Automatic Panic. In addition, I’m recruiting a lot of young, up and coming artists for my label Kinetika Records. For example on my debut EP I have remixes from Blende, Detboi, Per QX and Pomomofo. And let’s not forget touring, my traveling party is called ‘DJ Cat’s Pussy Party’, and I’m starting new global residencies in 2009.


And with that.......we thank you DJ Cat NYC

For more Info on Dj Cat NYC goto
http://www.djcatnyc.com/
http://www.myspace.com/djcatnyc
http://djcatspussyparty.blogspot.com/








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